MCLA Women clamp down on Middlebury for 48-41 win

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Women's Basketball team clamped down on visiting Middlebury College in the second half to earn a hard fought 48-41 victory this afternoon in the Amsler Campus Center Gym.  With the win, the Trailblazers even their mark at 5-5 while Middlebury drops to 6-3.

The Trailblazers took control in the closing half holding the Panthers to just 13 points on 4-21 shooting.  Middlebury was also hurt by 16 turnovers against the MCLA pressure, while the Trailblazers committed a season low 9 turnovers in the win.

The Panthers held a 28-22 lead at halftime, but came out of the locker room ice cold.  A Krystina Reynolds free throw gave Middlebury a 29-22 lead, however the Panthers would go scoreless over the next ten minutes as MCLA crawled back in it. 

A 10-0 run over that stretch gave the Trailblazers a 32-29 lead with 10:50 left to play.  Middlebury would eventually tie the game at 32 when Reynolds hit another free throw and subsequent jumper with 8:56 remaining the game was tied.

After trading baskets and the score at 36 all, MCLA took the lead for keeps on a Courtney Durivage free throw and Courtney McLaughlin's drive to the hoop made it 39-36 in favor of the hosts.  Middlebury would get within two on a pair of occasions, however each time MCLA answered.  They closed out Middlebury by going 5-6 from the line in the closing minutes.

The Trailblazers came out firing in the opening half as they made their first four shots to jump out to an early 10-5 lead.  Middlebury responded going on a 7-2 spurt to tie the game at 12 apiece.  The teams would trade buckets until the Panthers made a run with the game tied at 16 to surge ahead.  Middlebury went on a 12-2 run to take a 28-18 lead.  The Panthers drilled three triples in the spurt.  MCLA would tally the final four points of the half to cut the margin to 28-22 at halftime.

McLaughin kept MCLA close in the half tallying 10 of the Trailblazers 22 points.  MCLA shot just 31% for the half after their opening surge.  Middlebury's Elizabeth Knox scored 12 points in the half. 

McLaughin ended with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists for MCLA.  Brayleigh Hanlon also had 12 points and pulled down 8 boards. 

The Panthers were led by Knox's 12 points, however none in the second half.  Reynolds would end the game with 10 points. 

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Southern Vermont for  a non conference game.